Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just push pause sometimes…?
I am going to spend today soaking up every second of my kids.

ONE MORE SLEEP til school.
As much as I am looking forward to it I cannot help but think about what a big year this will be for us.

So many changes.

Eva begins full time kindergarten.
I will have all three children in school full time.
It’s bittersweet for me. I can honestly say that I have enjoyed every minute Eva and I had together while the boys were at school. I wasn’t quite ready for this but she really is.

Cam begins middle school.
I am so excited for him. He has an amazing teacher (so I’m told), great classmates and I really am looking forward to this next stage with him.

But it means that he is growing up. Too fast for my liking.
It also means that he is a bus kid. For the first time in his life he will be a bus kid.
For the past seven years I have driven him to school, kissed the top of his head and watched him scamper off. Not anymore. <sniff>
It will be a rude awakening for my sleepy morning boy who will need to be out the door by 7:45am to catch that bus. For the past seven years we have been leaving the house at 9:10am!

Cam entering middle school is also affecting the other two (Cuyler more than Eva).
Last year was the only year ever that all of 3 my kids will be in the same school.
Toward the end of last year Cuyler was showing some signs of anxiety with Cam not being at the same school. Asking if Cam could stay or if he could go to Cam’s new school.
He has only known school with Cam there. His big brother who, during a thunderstorm, would ask to go to the bathroom and then go to Cuyler’s class to see if he was ok.
Who would tell me when kids were not kind to Cuyler or if they made fun of him. He was his watchdog.
Everyday Cam would walk Cuyler to the back of the school while I dropped Eva off at the kinder yard out front.
Oh who am I kidding. My anxiety is just as high as Cuyler’s. For all the same reasons. Typing that out just made it worse. Oy.
I do think this will be a great opportunity for Cuyler to be the big brother. To build confidence and not rely on Cam for it.

Eva is just worried about opening her thermos. Cam was a lunch helper in her class last year and would open her thermos for her. He would also pop down her her class for a quick hug every now and then.

I think just knowing that their big brother was there was a source of comfort and security.

Change happens in life and as much as my instinctive reaction is to resist it – I know I cannot.
I’m certain that the anticipation of these changes is much worse than the reality will be.

Everybody will settle into their new routines within a few days.

Then to focus on another change. Mama needs a job. Hopefully the perfect job is out there for me. Wish me luck!

Kath

I’m with Sara, Cam sounds like a lovely young man. But you’re right…this is a great opportunity for Cuy to get to build some confidence and self esteem as the big brother himself. Silver linings, right?
Good luck with your job search!

Sara

Wow. My anxiety just raised with that. What a sweet, sweet boy Cam is. I’m excited for him. And for the independence that Cuy and Eva will experience with Cam changing…. and for YOU!